Instructors

Chief Instructor

Robert is the Chief Instructor of Toronto Aikikai. He holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt) and the title of Shihan (Master Instructor) in Aikido and the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Iaido. He has studied mainly under the direction of Mitsunari Kanai Shihan, 8th dan, Chief Instructor of New England Aikikai until his passing in 2004, and with Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan, 8th dan, Chief Instructor of New York Aikikai, both direct disciples of O-Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba.
Robert began practicing Aikido in 1967, and has trained and taught at seminars and training camps in Canada, the United States, Japan, Mexico, Central and South America, Israel and Europe. He is a member of the Technical Committee of the United States Aikido Federation and a past member of the Board of Directors of the United States Aikido Federation and of the Canadian and the Ontario Aikido Federations. His first instructor was Mr. Manuel Cela of the Fujiyama Dojo in Uruguay. After moving to Canada in 1974, his main instructor was Mr. Bruce Stiles, founder of Toronto Aikikai and a senior student of Mitsunari Kanai Shihan. Robert became Chief Instructor of Toronto Aikikai in 1983 when Mr. Stiles moved to Guelph, Ontario.
"I am extremely thankful and indebted to all my teachers over the years. They all conveyed many deep and valuable lessons. Two of the many things Kanai Sensei taught me were patience and a keen eye for detail. In spite of my many shortcomings he was always extremely patient with me, showing me by example and always answering all my questions, no matter how trivial. I truly miss our conversations. He also taught me about clarity, about how to see, understand, dissect, deconstruct, reconstruct and explain technical details to myself and others, to discern what is not shown and most importantly, how to search for the underlying principles from which techniques derive. He taught me that the learning process involves sustained effort coupled with clear understanding and pleasurable practice, and that eventually, the day will arrive when one can embody and manifest these principles in one's daily practice and, by extension, also in daily life. I find myself re-learning these lessons on a regular basis, as I try to apply these concepts and convey these teachings to my students."
Robert instructs the Beginners, All Levels, Advanced and Weapons Aikido classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as well as the Iaido classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays. He works as a Professional Engineer in a consulting firm.

Assistant Instructors

After studying Karate in his teens, Allan had to suspend his training and began searching for something different. Having read several articles about Aikido, he became intrigued with the uniqueness of this martial art and set out to search for a dojo. In 1978 he found and joined Toronto Aikikai. The Chief Instructor at that time was Mr. Bruce Stiles, a senior student of Kanai Sensei. In addition to training at the dojo, he soon began attending seminars and summer camps, and over the years was exposed to the teachings of other Shihan and senior instructors. "In spite of my years of practice, or perhaps because of them, for me Aikido continues to be mystifying, pleasurable, intriguing, frustrating, artistic and scientific, all at the same time. While constant in its core and fundamentals, I find it continuously renews itself, revealing its varied aspects as well as those of the practitioner. In that sense it is truly inexhaustible. This encourages me to continue studying, learning, discovering and re-discovering facets of Aikido and of myself. It really brings home the point of maintaining a beginner's mind." Allan currently holds the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt), and instructs classes at the dojo on an "as required" basis.

Martin started practicing Aikido in Caracas, Venezuela in 1993. After watching a class he thought that Aikido could be a good way to defend himself and stay fit, and has been practicing ever since. He trained under the direction of Nelson Requena Sensei at Venezuela Aikikai until 2006, when he moved to Toronto and started practicing with Robert Zimmermann Sensei. Martin received the rank of Shodan in 1999 (1st degree black belt) and the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt) in 2011. He instructs the Beginners classes on a rotating basis on Fridays. Martin's approach to teaching is simple: "If a doctor were to prescribe the same medicine to all of his patients, someone would surely be injured. By the same token, when teaching Aikido one's mind should be free from preset "one size fits all" formulas. Watch the students closely, clearly identify their specific needs and try to think how you would like to be taught if you were them. Be consistent, don't ask the students to do things you can't do and protect them: safety is priority one". Martin lives in Mississauga with his wife and 2 kids. He has a Civil Engineering background and works in the IT industry.

David started Aikido training at the Saint John Aikikai in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1995 before moving to Toronto in 1996. Having trained in Judo as a boy and moving to Toronto as a musician, he found Aikido practice to be a powerful combination of vigorous, disciplined movement skills and artistic, creative, non-competitive training that he took to wholeheartedly. David is an active member of the Aikido community, regularly attends seminars and strives to preserve and practice the teachings of Mitsunari Kanai Shihan through following the instruction of Toronto Aikikai chief instructor Robert Zimmermann, Shihan. David's Aikido experiences led him to the fitness industry, where he combines his martial arts knowledge with conventional physical fitness science as an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer. David currently holds the rank of Sandan in Aikido and instructs the Beginners and All Levels classes on Thursdays.

Zbig started practicing Aikido in October 1994 at Toronto Aikikai under the instruction of Robert Zimmermann Sensei. He assists in the instruction of Aikido classes and regularly attends several seminars a year both in Canada and in the US. "I started training for no particular reason; instinct maybe, or perhaps for self preservation. After all these years of practice I have realized many good, although unexpected, benefits from Aikido: not only has my physical ability improved, but I have gained endurance, persistence and patience. I recommend Aikido to everyone, but be aware - it's a long way to excellence and perfection. I'm still at the beginning of this journey." Zbig lives in Maple with his wife and son. He presently holds the rank of Nidan.

Ben started practicing Aikido at Toronto Aikikai in June 2003 and received the rank of Shodan in August 2008. He became interested in Aikido because he liked that it was a non-aggressive and yet effective martial art. Ben attends seminars regularly and instructs and assists in the Beginners and Weapons classes. His training philosophy: "Patience, attention, co-operation, relaxation and perseverance. You cannot learn everything in one day." Ben works as Ontario Sales Manager for a company in the automotive sector.

"I was first exposed to Martial Arts when I started training in Olympic Freestyle Wrestling at age 14. I entered competitions at both the Provincial and Canadian levels and participated in tournaments in Canada, the United States and Europe. I found wrestling to be a very rewarding activity and quickly realized that consistent hard work and dedication pay off in all aspects of life. I took a break from wrestling for a while, and while looking for a facility to begin training at again I stumbled upon Toronto Aikikai and Aikido in 1996. After watching a class I joined the dojo and have been practicing since." Brian currently holds the rank of Nidan and regularly attends seminars and training camps in Canada and the US. He instructs the Children classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and trains in regular and advanced classes 3 to 4 times a week. "My training philosophy is straight forward: discipline, hard work and consistency. I have found that Aikido has enhanced my life by providing the balance necessary to train alongside great friends here and abroad while keeping me fit and focused, confident and humble." Brian is employed by the City of Toronto.

Cesar started practicing Aikido in Mexico City in 1991. Having trained in Judo and Kung Fu as a child he wanted to practice a martial art again as an adult. After watching an Aikido class he liked the movements and the way the class was taught so much that he has been practicing ever since. He trained under the direction of Marta Fernandez Sensei and Carlos Cordero Sensei in Mexico until 2001, when he moved to Toronto and started practicing at Toronto Aikikai with Robert Zimmermann Sensei. Cesar was promoted to the rank of Shodan in Aikido by Yukio Kawahara Sensei and to the rank of Nidan by Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei. He became interested in Iaido in 2001 as a way to improve his Aikido practice, and currently holds the rank of Shodan. He attends seminars regularly throughout the year and assists in the instruction of both Aikido and Iaido classes at the dojo as required. Cesar works as a financial advisor.

Yelitza began her Aikido practice in Venezuela in January 2000. Three months later she had the opportunity to travel to Canada for 8 months where she trained under Robert Zimmermann Sensei at Toronto Aikikai. She returned briefly to Venezuela where she continued training with Nelson Requena Sensei and in November 2002 moved permanently to Toronto and has been practicing Aikido and Iaido at Toronto Aikikai since then. Over the years, Yelitza's practice has been strongly influenced and shaped by her main teacher Robert Zimmermann Shihan, and also by M. Kanai Shihan, Y. Yamada Shihan, and C. Berthiaume Shihan. One of the things that initially attracted her to Aikido was the beauty and roundness of its movements. She always admired martial arts but it was in Aikido that she found elements of strength, beauty, harmony, and non-competitiveness. She loved Aikido from day one, has practiced it uninterruptedly and it has become a lifestyle more than a hobby for her. Robert Zimmermann Sensei once told her "train hard in your good times and create the habit so you can continue in your bad times". Yelitza has found this to be very true and always keeps it in mind. "Aikido has changed my life in many ways. While the reasons why I started practicing are not the same as why I practice today, I have found that Aikido and Iaido are the best tools I have to get to know and work on myself. It's true they are beautiful martial arts, but more importantly, they offer me the opportunity to be more in touch with my body and mind and to experience how different emotional states affect me and my movements." Yelitza trains on average 5 days a week and regularly attends seminars in Canada, the US, and other countries. She currently holds the ranks of Shodan in Aikido and Shodan in Iaido. She is an active member of the dojo and instructs the Children classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and the Beginners and Children classes on a rotating basis on Sundays. "Aikido and Iaido have proven to be key for keeping balance in my life, increasing my productivity at work, helping me stay healthy and making friends all over the world." Yelitza works in the IT Security industry.

Mark started practicing Aikido in October 2001 while living in Japan. He had always been interested in the martial arts, but had never seriously studied any. He was originally drawn to Aikido because of its powerful-looking techniques and graceful movements. After participating in his first class his initial impression was: "I can't believe this tiny old man just threw me across the mat ... and so easily." He was instantly hooked. In 2004 he moved to Toronto and started practicing Aikido and later Iaido at Toronto Aikikai. His main teacher has been Robert Zimmermann Shihan. Mark regularly attends seminars in Canada and the US. He received his Shodan rank in Aikido in 2009 and instructs the Friday Beginners classes on a rotating basis. He works as an Acoustics Engineer in a private firm.

Paul's first exposure to Aikido came while backpacking in South America where he found the Shuren Aikido Dojo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here he met his first instructor Luis Guz Sensei and began training in July of 1999. Paul came to Toronto to study anthropology and joined Toronto Aikikai in the fall of 2000. While studying under Zimmermann Sensei, Paul's main Aikido influences have been Mitsunarai Kanai Shihan until his passing in 2004, as well as Yamada Sensei and Berthiaume Sensei. Paul has also been fortunate enough to attend seminars instructed by Tamura Sensei, Kawahara Sensei and Doshu. Paul regularly attends seminars in Toronto, Brampton, and Montreal. "I have found that many of the values I have learned from Aikido help me in my own journey to seek out truth and provide direction for how I interact with the world. I believe two important components of Aikido are fostering a sincere appreciation for friendship and establishing a positive attitude towards training. I believe strongly that we are the result of what we do and what we practice. These core values are viable whether on the road, on the mat, in the classroom or workplace as well as with family matters. This attitude and understanding is part of my daily life and contributes to my goal of helping improve the human condition and attaining a state of balance between energy, economy, society and the environment." Paul has a degree in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and has worked in geophysics exploration, archaeology and as a DNA technician. He has returned to school for a Renewable Energy Technician Diploma and anticipates being at the forefront of Renewable Energy applications. He lives with his wife Kelly, their daughter Lily and their two dogs Luztsuki and Ben. Paul instructs the All Levels class on Fridays.

"I began training in the Martial Arts at the age of 21 at a local martial arts school that most of my family members had attended. I immersed myself in the practice of the Filipino indigenous combat weapon and unarmed hand-to-hand methods of '"arnis or kali" to quickly instill a vigorous form of physical and mental discipline. Soon after, in 1993, I joined the Canadian Army Reserve as an artillery-soldier to further my challenges and undertakings, and so began my search for a tough martial discipline and a self-defense curriculum with which I craved to train earnestly alongside soldiering. Through my arnis/kali teacher, I was exposed to his Shotokan Karate and Kobudo backgrounds for several years. This helped me experience several methods of fighting and self-defense and expanded my understanding of how to train physically, spiritually and purposefully. I also studied several forms of traditional Japanese Budo such as Bujinkan Ninpo-Taijutsu, Judo and Goshin Kai Jujutsu in which I achieved the rank of Shodan after 5 years of practice. In spite of my extensive experience, I was not satisfied with my training - I felt something was still missing. It was in this frame of mind that I heard one my fellow students from the arnis/kali school mention he also practiced Aikido, and I decided to look into what that was all about. After visiting several schools I began training at one dojo in 1999, but a year later decided to attend Toronto Aikikai for a different disciplined training regime and the style of Robert Zimmermann Shihan. At Toronto Aikikai I have made Aikido my core training in Japanese Budo, and in 2003 I also started practicing Iaido." Ezzard currently holds the rank of Shodan in Aikido and instructs the Beginners class on Fridays on a rotating basis. He is studying to become a fire-fighter.

"When I was a teenager I read an article in a sports magazine about an old man that the author called O-Sensei, who was able to throw people without any apparent effort. Being a skinny guy I liked that idea. The only problem was that there was no Aikido dojo in my city at the time. My first encounter with the Martial Arts was in 1985 while serving in the Military. Then in 1990 I started practicing Goju-Ryu Karate and reached the rank of blue belt after having trained for 4 years. It was in 1994 that I started my journey in Aikido at Toronto Aikikai under Sensei Robert Zimmermann. I had gone to observe a class and seeing him teach and train was scary yet very appealing. I could not believe that people could fly like that and get up without harm. At that moment I knew that this was what I was looking for. Aikido has helped me develop a calmer mind, better body awareness and helps keep me in good physical condition to perform my work as a Registered Massage Therapist. What do I love about Aikido? I love everything about it! Perhaps the most amazing feeling is when for a few seconds, while flying through the air after being thrown, you feel weightless and the world around you is quiet and sort of stands still. It's something that can not be explained, only experienced." At present Slawomir holds the rank of Shodan and instructs the Beginners and Children classes on Sundays on a rotating basis.

Basia instructs the Children and Beginners classes on a rotating basis on Sundays. She has been practicing Aikido since 2004. "I first tried it when I found myself one summer with no job and a lot of stress from an intense semester at university. I practiced all summer at Aikido de la Montagne in Montreal, and when it came time to start the next semester I loved it too much to stop, so I found a way to work it into my schedule. The next year I moved to Toronto for graduate school, found Toronto Aikikai, and have been practicing under Robert Zimmermann Sensei ever since. I have been attending the USAF Summer Camp every year since 2008 as well as one or two seminars a year in Montreal, Brampton, and Toronto. Learning as much as I can, and understanding how people and animals of all kinds learn have always been two major interests of mine. In Aikido I'm drawn to so many things. For example, the beautiful use of classical physics -- of balance, momentum, leverage, timing and inertia, which make techniques look so effortless, although they're quite hard to learn. Also the fact that there are endless opportunities to keep learning and developing one's skills, and that there is a wonderful balance of learning at one's own pace and having the support of a community of skilled and energetic friends in which to do so. And best of all, who can resist pinning someone to the ground, tossing them across a room, or turning around and becoming airborne yourself?" Basia is working on her PhD in Electrical Engineering in the field of photovoltaics, a.k.a. solar electricity.

Marco practiced Shotokan Karate and Arnis (Filipino martial art) as a child, but life's path took him away from the study of Martial Arts for a while. When his brother introduced him to Toronto Aikikai, he felt it was time to return . After visiting the dojo and observing a class, he knew right away that Aikido was what he had been looking for for a long time. The beautiful, yet efficient and powerful techniques suited Marco's personal goal of mind and body improvement. Marco started practicing Aikido in 2003 and Iaido in 2006. He instructs the Beginners class on Fridays on a rotating basis and emphasizes ukemi, the art of receiving techniques safely and properly. "A person's ukemi in response to a technique also reflects how that person will execute Aikido techniques. It is also a good indicator of a person's inner states. Its study is truly fascinating and revealing." Marco's other personal interests are in endurance sports such as cycling, running and triathlon. He works as an independent consultant in the information technology field.

Alex started Aikido practice in 2007 in the American Midwest at a small yet energetic dojo where he gained exposure to the teachings of Yamada Sensei and Tohei Sensei through his first instructors Motier Haskins and John Strouss. In 2009 Alex moved to Toronto and by recommendation of his previous teacher joined Toronto Aikikai to study under the guidance of Robert Zimmermann Shihan. Having practiced Karate, Judo, Jeet Kune Do, BJJ, and mixed martial arts in the past, after his first Aikido class back in 2007 Alex realized that he finally found something worth sticking with for years. "In my opinion Aikido is a perfect example of a life-long quest for perfection, providing proper balance in my life as an urban accountant. Aikido is certainly the most sophisticated of the martial arts I've tried ... and I've tried quite a few." Aikido practice quickly became an important part of Alex's lifestyle. "I always tended to be more on the brain side, which made my life way too unbalanced. In the course of Aikido practice I learned to trust my instincts and let go of wordy concepts when it's time to act. It has also taught me not to take myself too seriously, as well as to discern more clearly what is important and what is not." Alex instructs the Beginners classes on Fridays as well as the Beginners and Children classes on Sundays on a rotating basis.